Cytological and ultrastructural investigation and x-ray microanalysis of the BAL fluid of the Chernobyl catastrophe consequences liquidators made 7 years after the catastrophe (the first report)

Abstract

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of 9 young man who took an active part in the liquidation of the Thernobyl wreck’s consequences during may—July 1986 was analyzed in order to investigate: absolute and different cell count; b) possible presence of the radioactive particles in the cytoplasm of alveolar macrophages; c) chemical structure of these particles. Control group — 8 man without lung diseases. Whole absolute cell count in the liquidators BAL was greatly increased in comparison with control group (0,9+0,01-10 /ml and 0,2+0,03-10 / ml in control group) but different cell number was not different from healthy subjects. Cytoplasm of 30—60% of alveolar macrophages contained large (0,5—1,0 mkm in diameter) high density particles. Chemical analysis of these particles was performed by the method of X-ray spectrometry with accerating tension 80 kV, sensitivity of the channel — 40V and number of channels — 1024. Only cytoplasm and part of the high density particles in alveolar macrophages from liquidators contained U, Np, Pu, Fr, Pm, Pa. Cytoplasm of lymphocytes and erytrocytes of these patients, nets, buffers and epon for electron microscopy did’t contained such kind of the elements. Thus, it was determined that alveolar macrophages can take part in the deposition of actually unsoluble radioactive dust particles and parts of nuclear fuel.